PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Embattled MP for Redcliffe Scott Driscoll and some of the emails he exchanged with RCAMB services manager Tracy Slater. Source: The Courier-Mail

NEWMAN Government bureaucrats knew seven months ago of LNP MP Scott Driscoll's inappropriate involvement in a taxpayer-funded community association that gave his wife's consulting company Norsefire tens of thousands of dollars in consulting fees.

The allegations raise questions about the Newman Government's willingness to investigate the serious matters raised about the behaviour of Mr Driscoll, who has been suspended from the LNP.

The Courier-Mail reported last month that Mr Driscoll had secret control of the Regional Community Association Moreton Bay while an MP, directing day-to-day operations, including its finances and dealings with federal and state governments, until February.

This newspaper can now reveal a Department of Communities official first flagged concerns in late August about a proposed meeting at Mr Driscoll's electorate office to "go through the contract and signing" of a community program.

The official wrote on August 27 to RCAMB services manager Tracy Slater, expressing concerns that "as Mr Driscoll is the sitting Member of Parliament for Redcliffe", direction would have to be sought from the official's Executive Officer.

On September 6 the official wrote: "I am yet to receive the confirmation to accept the meeting with Mr Scott Driscoll MP at his office".

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Embattled MP for Redcliffe Scott Driscoll and some of the emails he exchanged with RCAMB services manager Tracy Slater.

The same day, Mr Slater forwarded the email exchange to Mr Driscoll at his scott@norsefire address.

The exchanges between Mr Slater and Mr Driscoll are included above.

On December 14, two Communities department officials met RCAMB senior staff and its president, Bruce Mills. One official asked about the "communication process" used with a consulting firm to which management of the association had been "outsourced".

The officials failed to ask for the firm's name, despite one of them having been copied in on a complaint three weeks earlier naming Norsefire and detailing the involvement at RCAMB of Mr Driscoll and his wife.

RCAMB was later asked to provide the firm's name by December 28 and the communication details by February 28.

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE: Embattled MP for Redcliffe Scott Driscoll and some of the emails he exchanged with RCAMB services manager Tracy Slater.

The Courier-Mail understands the information was never supplied.

Separately, a whistleblower made a detailed complaint to Communities after an RCAMB annual meeting on December 19 that Mr Driscoll chaired while office bearers were elected. The whistleblower complained of people being excluded from the meeting, a lack of transparency about financial information, and the identity of companies said to have replaced the role of chief executive.

The Courier-Mail has obtained the department's February 14 response to the whistleblower.

North Coast regional director Patricia Occelli wrote: "Please be reassured that the North Coast Region is investigating your allegations in order to ensure compliance of responsibilities within their Service Agreement and within the Act.

"Therefore, it has been determined that no further correspondence from North Coast Region is required regarding your complaint and it will be closed, effective 15 February 2013."

Four days later, The Courier-Mail began publishing a series of exposes of Mr Driscoll's business activities.

The paper revealed last month that Norsefire, where Mr Driscoll was sole director, earned $2850 a week from RCAMB for "secretariat management services" from about August 2012. Mrs Driscoll was also on the payroll from late last year as HR administrative officer.

Premier Campbell Newman told Parliament on March 19 that the Government had "properly investigated" complaints against Mr Driscoll.

The departments involved now refuse to answer questions about officials' initial concerns, whistleblower complaints and attempts to investigate, all of which have been uncovered by The Courier-Mail investigation.

They also decline to say whether Communities Minister Tracy Davis was briefed or had any involvement.

A NOTE ABOUT RELEVANT ADVERTISING: We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more relevant to you on our network and other sites.